Priests – “JJ” [Video]

Washington, DC’s Priests have announced their first full-length, Nothing Feels Natural, which will be released January 27th via their own label Sister Polygon Records. Following the release of Bodies and Control and Money and Power, Priests began to tweak their songwriting process – concentrating more deeply on melody, dialing down the distortion, and experimenting with dynamics.

Today, you can hear some new material off the full length with the lean and melodic “JJ.” It is a song that erupts as it moves forward. We think you will like it!

Pixies: Head Carrier [Ablum Review]

Pixies Head Carrier Pixiesmusic/PIAS [2016] Fire Note Says: Pixies rock with a sense of history, but also look ahead. Album Review: Pixies, an alt/rock quartet originating out of Boston, is one of those bands whose shadow of influence has been far greater than their actual sales. Like the Velvet Underground, it’s been said that not … Read more

Spray Paint: Feel The Clamps [Album Review]

Spray Paint Feel The Clamps Goner Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: Spray Paint‘s newest LP, Feel the Clamps was a really big surprise for this Fire Note writer. I had heard a few tracks over the course of the year, but only one had really caught my ear earlier this summer. The more I … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Drakulas – “Neon Town”

Drakulas are from Austin, TX and feature members of Riverboat Gamblers and Rise Against, among others. Their debut LP, Raw Wave, is due out November 18th and sounds right at home on Dirtnap records with its high energy guitar driven rock. “Neon Town” is your first Drakulas taste with its scurrying guitar and in your … Read more

Green Day: Revolution Radio [Album Review]

Green Day Revolution Radio Reprise Records [2016] Fire Note Says: Keeping it real even though we all have grown older! Album Review: “I’m like a child looking off in the horizon,” sings punk trio Green Day’s singer/songwriter Billie Joe Armstrong at the midpoint of the band’s new album. “I’m like an ambulance that’s turning on … Read more

Prophets Of Rage: Politically Charged & Musically Satisfying [Concert Review]

Prophets of Rage: Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH – October 5, 2016 “Cincinnati, are you awake?” asked rapper B-Real early in the performance of the Prophets of Rage on Wednesday, a theme he would revisit throughout the night. It felt like a warm late summer night in spite of the fall date on the calendar, … Read more

TUNS: TUNS [Album Review]

TUNS TUNS Royal Mountain Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: If you know your Canadian power pop then TUNS will be a no brainer. The band consists of Sloan’s Chris Murphy, The Inbreds’ Mike O’Neil, and Super Friendz’s Matt Murphy. All 90’s veterans of the Northern scene and without even trying, TUNS soars with its … Read more

Jeff Rosenstock: WORRY. [Album Review]

Jeff Rosenstock WORRY. SideOneDummy Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: With some veteran names in the punk genre like Green Day, NOFX and Sum 41 just recently releasing records I would encourage you to look away from the masses for a second and find Jeff Rosenstock. Who? Well, he is best known for leading the … Read more

Ani DiFranco – “Play God” [Video]

Ani DiFranco continues to advocate for women as the November election approaches. Today she released her powerful new song “Play God” off her forthcoming full-length, the first new music from DiFranco since 2014’s Allergic To Water.

The official video for the track was shot and edited by Shervin Lainez and features clips from women’s rights protests around the country shot by women’s rights organization Lady Parts Justice, founded by comedian, political writer, and producer Lizz Winstead, co-creator of The Daily Show and Air America Radio.

In light of the current political climate in the United States, DiFranco is using her 2016 VOTE DAMMIT! tour and her music to encourage fans to vote on Election Day and have their voices be heard. The tour dates are below.

Ani DiFranco VOTE DAMMIT! tour schedule:
10/7 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre*
10/8 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore*
10/9 – Arcata, CA – John Van Duzer Theatre*
10/11 –Redding, CA – Cascade Theatre*
10/12 – Sacramento, CA – Crest Theatre*
10/14 – Garden City, ID – Revolution Concert House*
10/15 -Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot*
11/8 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground*
11/9 – Albany, NY – The Egg*
11/11 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg*
11/12 – Port Washington, NY – Landmark on Main Street*
11/14 –Boston, MA – Berklee Performance Center*
11/15 –Portland, ME – State Theater*
11/17 – Northampton, MA – Calvin Theatre*
11/18 – NYC – Concert Hall at NY Society for Ethical Culture (w/ Lizz Winstead)
11/19 – NYC – Concert Hall at NY Society for Ethical Culture (w/ Lizz Winstead)

* with Chastity Brown

The Friday Fire Track: Wolf People – “Ninth Night”

How about some spirit-raising purveyors of pagan folk psyche prog from the UK? You say what? That is right, Wolf People are back in full force with a new album titled Ruins coming out November 11th via Jagjaguwar. Today we hit you with the first single off the record, “Ninth Night,” that sets the tone … Read more

The Dandy Warhols – “Catcher In The Rye” [Video]

The Dandy Warhols have a new video for their single “Catcher In The Rye.” The video was directed by Mike Bruce whose upcoming film Treasure Of The Black Jaguar is being released in January. The video stars Duke Nicholson (Jack Nicholson’s grandson) as Holden Caulfield and Caitlin Carmichael as the young woman. The Dandy Warhols currently are on tour to support Distortland.

The Dandy Warhols Live Dates:
October 6: Atlanta, GA – Terminal West *
October 7: Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge *
October 8: St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall *
October 10: Birmingham, AL – Saturn *
October 11: New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s Uptown *
October 12: Dallas, TX – Granada Theater *
October 13: Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall *
October 14: Austin, TX – The Scoot Inn *
October 15: Austin, TX – The Scoot Inn *
December 6 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
December 7 – Seattle, WA – Showbox at the Market
December 10 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
December 13 – Petaluma, CA – Mystic Theater
December 14 – San Luis Obispo, CA – The Fremont Theater
December 15 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
December 16 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre
Devember 17 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore

AUSTRALIA
October 26 – Perth – Metro City
October 27 – Adelaide – HQ
October 29 – Brisbane – Eatons Hill Hotel
October 30 – Gold Coast – Parkwood Tavern
November 3 – Canberra – ANU Bar
November 4 – Sydney – Big Top
November 5 – Melbourne – Palais Theatre

EUROPE
February 10 – Madrid – Joy Eslava
February 11 – Barcelona – Sala Apolo
February 13 – Clermont-Ferrand – La Cooperative de Mai
February 14 – Lyon – Epicerie Moderne
February 15 – Geneva – Festival Antigel
February 17 – Rome – Monk Club
February 18 – Milan – Magnolia
February 19 – Lucerne – Schuur
February 20 – Strasbourg – La Laiterie
February 22 – Prague 1 – Lucerna Music Bar
February 23 – Dresden – Beatpol
February 24 – Berlin – Lido
February 25 – Copenhagen – Amager Bio
February 27 – Den Haag – Paard van Troje
February 28 – Nijmegen – Doornroosje
March 2 – Caen – Le BBC
March 3 – Angers – Le Chabada
March 4 – London – Roundhouse

Bon Iver: 22, A Million [Album Review]

Bon Iver 22, A Million Jagjaguwar [2016] Fire Note Says: The constantly evolving Bon Iver! Album Review: I never thought that Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon would stay contained to one style, sound or genre but the turn he has taken on his third record 22, A Million was not expected, slightly perplexing and a musical … Read more

The Brotherhood Of Lizards: Lizardland – The Complete Works [Album Review]

The Brotherhood Of Lizards Lizardland: The Complete Works Captured Tracks [2016] Fire Note Says: Captured Tracks unearths another gem from Martin Newell of Cleaners from Venus. Album Review: I have to confess, I had no idea that The Brotherhood of Lizards was even a band, let alone a short-lived project featuring Martin Newell of Cleaners … Read more

Kishi Bashi: Sonderlust [Album Review]

Kishi Bashi Sonderlust Joyful Noise Recordings [2016] Fire Note Says: Kishi Bashi takes some chances and expands on his sound three albums in. Album Review: Kishi Bashi (Kaoru Ishibashi) has released his third full-length album and it’s quite a departure for the artist. Kishi Bashi’s first two albums have been hybrids of chamber pop and … Read more

MidPoint Music Festival Review 2016: Good Music, Good Food, & Lessons In Courtesy

Nothing like a three day music festival and 81 artists over 4 stages to totally enthrall a music lover. The 2016 lineup for Cincinnati’s Midpoint Music Festival was one of the best they have had in years and with some cooperative weather (although really hot at times) the overall experience will go down as a … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: LVL UP – “Hidden Driver”

LVL UP is back and the band’s third album and Sub Pop debut Return To Love is out today. The opening track from the album, “Hidden Driver” is the Friday Fire Track today and just one listen should have you wanting to hear more. The band has a very Built To Spill/Modest Mouse/Shins sound that … Read more

Marriage + Cancer: Demonstrations II EP [Album Review]

Marriage + Cancer Demonstrations II EP Self-Released [2016] Fire Note Says: Marriage + Cancer have had a complete sound overhaul. Album Review: I have been a longtime follower of Robert Komets’ music. His Nucular Aminals’ albums and the earlier versions of Marriage + Cancer were some wonderfully off beat, sometimes goofy, sometimes dour, but always … Read more

How I Spent My Saturday Evening At The MidPoint Music Fest

Probably the best thing about music festivals, aside from gathering some bands you want to see into one place for a long day of music, or three days if you have the stamina and interest, is the times you stumble onto good bands you’ve not encountered previously. As I was new to the MidPoint Fest, … Read more

Beach Slang: A Loud Bash Of Teenage Feelings [Album Review]

Beach Slang A Loud Bash Of Teenage Feelings Polyvinyl Records [2016] Fire Drill Album Review: TFN has been all over Beach Slang’s Replacement style rock n roll since their pair of EP debuts back in 2014. This Philly band has quickly progressed and now with A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings, they have already released … Read more